Current Status (November 2025):
Under Construction!
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Starting December 1st, construction on Hank Aaron Drive south of Ormond Street will begin with new traffic patterns that will be completed in five phases. Each phase will have a vehicular traffic detour plan. Only local traffic will be allowed on blocks with active construction, and all other traffic will be detoured. The work will start in the fifth phase near the intersection of Hank Aaron Drive and McDonough Boulevard. For information on the detour routes, click
here.
Bus routes 55 and 49 will also be detoured. Please check the
bus reroutes site for details on the specific bus reroutes.
Monthly Station Feature
Off-Board Payment
Introduced to improve service efficiency, the Monthly Station Feature aims to increase reliability and rider satisfaction. Please check out this month’s station feature below!
Off-board payment enhances the boarding process through several benefits, such as:
- Faster boarding times, reducing bus idling time at stops.
- Flexible payment options.
- Improving service reliability by keeping buses on schedule with timely boarding processes.
- Ticket confirmation through MARTA Police Department Officers riding buses and checking payment confirmation.
MARTA Rapid A-Line Features
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective public transportation system that uses dedicated bus lanes to avoid traffic congestion. Our BRT system includes features such as frequent service, electric buses, and well-designed stations with pre-payment systems to speed up boarding. BRT provides a flexible low-cost service. BRTs help improve air quality and promote sustainable urban mobility. BRT systems are designed to be fast, reliable, and accessible for passengers. Continue reading below for more information on what the Rapid A-Line BRT project has to offer.
- 14 new stations with level boarding, real-time arrival information, and off-board fare collection so you can pay before you board.
- Brand-new 60-foot articulated electric buses
- Trips every 10 to 12 minutes during peak hours
- Total travel time from Five Points south to Carver will be 12 to 15 minutes
- 85% dedicated bus lanes with transit signal priority to bypass traffic
General improvements provided by the MARTA Rapid A-Line project.
Rendering of MARTA Rapid A-Line stations
Construction Overview
Construction will impact the travel routes in several ways. Please see the information below on what you can expect during construction working hours from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. To maintain project schedule, the team may utilize night work to complete projects in a timely manner. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working diligently to finish the project. If you have any concerns, please reach out to the Rapid Response Team email (
rapidaline@itsmarta.com) or hotline (404.848.3006).
Construction activity will cause periodic lane reductions along MLK Jr. Drive and Mitchell Street. This will impact on-street parking and sidewalk access in this area. Please see the links below for more details. Please plan accordingly as these lane closures will impact travel times, sidewalks, cycle tracks, and parking lanes.
On street parking:
On-street parking will be unavailable in locations along the route during the next phase of construction as the team continues to prepare for the future Rapid station installations and road widening. All drivers along the route should adhere to posted signage such as the restricted parking access signs. On-street parking spots will be closed along Hank Aaron Drive and Mitchell Street.
Construction Impacts
Please anticipate traffic lane closures and pedestrian and bicycle detours for necessary road widening work at the following locations:
Low impact construction may continue after scheduled hours when traffic is at its lowest, but crewmembers will comply with local noise ordinances. The construction crew may also work during weekends to maintain the project schedule during periods of inclement weather.
Please look for posted signage for detailed parking and lane restriction instructions when traveling the corridor.
Bus Stop Impacts:
Several existing bus stops along the corridor will be intermittently impacted by construction. Please refer to the rider alert above, which is also posted at bus stops, for information about service to bus stops during construction.
For assistance with trip planning, please visit MARTA’s
Plan a Trip web page, download the
MARTA On the Go app, or contact MARTA Customer Service at (404)848-5000. For information about MARTA’s ADA complementary paratransit service, visit the
MARTA Mobility webpage or call (404) 848-4037.
Project Overview
Summerhill Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – now known as MARTA Rapid A-Line, will provide a 5-mile roundtrip route that connects Downtown Atlanta to the Capitol Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the Atlanta BeltLine with fast, frequent premium transit service. Connections to
MARTA’s heavy rail system will be provided at Five Points, Georgia State, and Garnett stations.
The project is funded through a Federal TIGER Grant and the More MARTA program with the City of Atlanta. Planning and design work took place between Spring 2019 and Summer 2022. Following preliminary utility work that started in 2022, construction kicked off with an official groundbreaking in June 2023. Due to the nature of construction and unexpected delays, construction will be completed after 2025 with revenue service beginning thereafter.
Project Map:
Resources:
Community engagement on the planning and design for this project has been taking place since 2019. Please see the materials below for a variety of presentations and other project information.
Project Information:
Previous public meetings:
*This material is based upon work supported by the USDOT under FTA FY 2017 TIGER Grant No. GA 2020-022-00. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the USDOT.
Previously Released Newsletters:
Previously Released Construction Alerts:
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January 28, 2025 Alert
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January 31, 2025 Alert
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February 20, 2025 Alert
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March 7, 2025 Alert
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April 8, 2025 Alert
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April 24, 2025 Alert
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July 14, 2025 Alert
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July 23, 2025 Alert
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September 25, 2025 Alert
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October 15, 2025 Alert
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October 22, 2025 Alert
- November 6, 2025 Alert
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November 21, 2025 Alert
Contact
For general project questions, contact our MARTA Rapid Response Team:
Houston Harris & Makaela Edmonds
rapidaline@itsmarta.com
404.848.3006
Follow our progress! Sign up for project email updates
here by selecting Rapid Summerhill under Expansion Projects.